Advocates demand end to State housing of large groups of people with disabilities

The National Advocacy Service has revealed that there are more than 1,800 people with disabilities still live in large institutions without control over their lives. File picture

Over 1,800 people with disabilities still live in large institutions without control over their lives, according to the National Advocacy Service (NAS) which demanded the closure of the remaining institutions.

The high numbers come 15 years after the Government first rolled out the de-congregation policy in 2011. This was to end State housing of large groups of people in institutions together.

Contributors to a new report published on Tuesday said they are unable to make basic choices, including about who they hang out with or what they eat.

Some said they were afraid of other residents and others complained of “inadequate responses to abuse” by staff which left them vulnerable.

The NAS also warned an additional 1,128 people with disabilities aged under 65 are still living in nursing homes. This is also despite Government pledges to change this practice.

Joanne Condon, NAS national manager, said: "Every person should have the opportunity to live an ordinary life, with the same dignity, choice, belonging and opportunities as every other member of society.

"This paper calls on all key stakeholders to take meaningful steps to ensure swift and full closure of institutions.” 

The report highlights the “transformative” impact of moving people out of congregated settings, those who have 10 or more people living together.

Conditions for Geraldine, who has an intellectual disability and lived in institutions since the age of four, are described.

The building is “multistorey, old, imposing, and stark, with long corridors, high windows and large dormitory-style sleeping areas and communal spaces,” so there is little cosy about it.

A NAS advocate described another campus where everyone lived in bungalows in groups of about 10.

“The food was made centrally in a big, old-fashioned building, a big kitchen. 

"And even though each house had their own kitchen, it was never used and it was often locked because it was seen as a risk maybe if someone went in, they could be at risk of burning themselves or something,” this person said. 

So, the kitchen was for decorative purposes.

Marge Lysaght at the Social Health Education Project in Cork said in general: “The work of staff was observed to be more task-centred and not person-centred. 

"So, staff genuinely seem to see their role as making sure people are washed, cleaned, fed, and that’s it.” 

The findings and case studies are available on the NAS report Have things moved on?.